Monday, January 23, 2012

tassie highlights...last one (promise)

You’ve been very patient with my holiday snaps, and kind with your comments...thank you.
This is the last Tassie post I promise...cross my heart J
They’ve come in no particular order...no-one who knows me would be surprised by that, so today we have Port Arthur and Battery Point.
Port Arthur is a place teeming with ghosts and ghastly stories. The tour guides try to downplay it, and that seems fair to me. After the awful events of April 1996 when Martin Bryant gunned down 35 people, both tourists and site workers, you can hardly blame people for wanting to emphasise the reformist aspects of this historic place. It was a penal colony, a place of incarceration for men and boys, designed to practice a new 'enlightened' view of imprisonment on the most difficult of the convicts from other parts of Australia.  Almost inescapable due to its geography, only a very small number actually made it out. Despite its history, or perhaps because of it, I was captivated by its physical beauty. I hadn’t expected that.
And  because I know you love a house shot or four J 
Who knew black coral was a popular decor item in the 1800s?
And the kitchen in the commandant's house....cosy and comfy don't you think. What must the prisoners have thought about a lovely home just metres away? Fabulous faded wall mural and embroidered curtain coming up...
I want to buy a house in Battery Point. Excuse me while I dash off to buy a lottery ticket!
Ok, that's probably a Tassie overload...I might post some more photos on my facebook page later in the week, just in case you're suffering from withdrawal. And as I'm unlikely to be holidaying again any time soon you're probably safe for a while J
memorial to the 1996 tragedy
all images: a tranquil townhouse
 

14 comments:

  1. Kerry, you have captured it all so beautifully. I haven't been to Port Arthur in such a long time. The hydrangeas are amazing and I do remember that beautiful mural on the wall.
    If you get tired of your job you could always be a tourism promoter for Tassie!
    X

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  2. Great pictures - there all SO English to my eyes.

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  3. Port Arthur - wasn't that a tragedy? Beautiful photos of such a beautiful place. I wonder if they teach history a bit better now to Australian school children - I would have remembered the black coral decoration penchant if I was told that.

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  4. Your photos are beautiful, I like the memorial I haven't been back since.
    Battery Point is one of my favourite places, the windey streets, the pretty houses (did you see Arthur's Circus?)
    Actually I would be quite happy if you kept posting holiday snaps I am going home with you without having to go!!! xxx

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  5. You did find the door...!

    Port Arthur is one of my favourite places, the surrounding bays I suppose and not the site so much but it is beautiful too. I find the memorial to the shooting victims very moving - still such vivid memories of that time in Tas. Awful. A x

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  6. You are in MOTH's spiritual heartland Kerry, & we've loved all your posts & gorgeous images of Tassie. You need to make S.A. the next destination on your roadshow!
    Millie xx

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  7. A few years back pre-children, Paul and I did a trip to Tasmania, driving around from town to and town. It was great so I'm looking forward to going back and catching up on your trip.

    I enjoyed Port Arthur, especially the architecture but found it very eerie. Battery Point was one of my favourite spots for a wander too, admiring all the gorgeous homes.

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  9. Try again, must be tired, will try to make the comment make sense this time!

    I was a bit reluctant to vist Port Arthur when we visited about 10 years ago. I was so glad I did though. Like you I found it's beauty absolutely mesmerising and while you can't forget the past there was a real sense of positivity about the place.
    Penny x

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  10. Loved it all, of course, Kerry. So interested in your thoughts. Like Ann, I remember that horrid April day all too vividly. I was in a house in Battery Point when I first heard the news.

    Anyway, I'm so delighted you fell in love with this place a little more and yes, you and Ann must form a 'door watchers' society' ☺. J x

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  11. Great photos. Now I really really really want to visit :-)
    Happy Australia Day Kerri. (think I am a bit early but at least I remembered)

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  12. Feel free to show more of Tasmania! You've made me more desperate to see it. Can't wait to check it out next time we're in Australia. I'll have to print off all your posts!

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  13. Thanks for sharing, I love reading you should post more often...

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  14. Thanks for sharing, I love reading you should post more often...

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I love it when you comment...I feel excited, chuffed and tranquil all at the same time! Thank you.

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